Drafter
Clerk 09/22/2014
title
A MOTION that calls for advancing equity and social justice and directs the office of performance, strategy and budget to coordinate the development of a countywide equity and social justice strategic innovation priority plan, in collaboration with the equity and social justice interbranch team, county agencies and community partners, in compliance with K.C.C. 2.10.014 through 2.10.124.
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WHEREAS, at a glance, King County is a great place to live, learn, work and play, with a robust economy, stunning natural beauty, thriving cultural and arts scene, and rich diversity by race and ethnicity, and
WHEREAS, despite these aforementioned strengths, significant portions of the community are being left behind, especially if looked at by race, ethnicity, income, immigration status and ZIP code, and
WHEREAS, there are persistent inequities by race and place for many community conditions and systems, such as strong neighborhoods, healthy local foods, quality education, early childhood development, the law and justice system, health and human services and affordable housing, and
WHEREAS, a growing body of national and international research shows that equity is associated with stronger and more sustainable growth and that inequities threaten economic prosperity for all, and
WHEREAS, the King County Strategic Plan identifies "fair and just" as a guiding principle; and
WHEREAS, in 2010, the county council adopted Ordinance 16948, directing the executive to "apply equity and social justice foundational practices to county actions" including in all decision-making, the organizational culture and the engagement of communities, while supporting communities' efforts to develop solutions, and
WHEREAS, the county's equity and social justice interbranch team, created in accordance with K.C.C. 2.10.220, plays a key role in ensuring that county agencies, branches, departments and offices coordinate efforts to implement the King County Strategic Plan's "fair and just" principle, and
WHEREAS, King County has taken significant actions in its policy and decision-making to further the "fair and just" principle, such as the Transit Strategic Plan that includes equity as a key criteria for allocation of bus service and the budget process that incorporates an equity lens, and
WHEREAS, King County has engaged its agencies, community leaders and partner organizations to make major advances in eliminating inequities, such as enrolling more than one hundred eighty thousand people in affordable health care and working with school districts to lower obesity rates in communities with the greatest needs; and
WHEREAS, King County has made critical advances in its organizational practices, by increasing contracting opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses, creating standards for translation, interpretation and language access and extending opportunities in recruitment, hiring and promotion, and
WHEREAS, King County is currently advancing many important equity-focused initiatives, including with the Health and Human Services Transformation Plan and Communities of Opportunity to improve the well-being of individuals and communities with the greatest needs, the low-income fare Metro Transit option, a new local food initiative, criminal and juvenile justice improvements, early childhood learning and development , and
WHEREAS, the interbranch team, departments, agencies and the office of performance, strategy and budget, in collaboration with county leadership, employees and community partners have undertaken various surveys, forums and reports, concluding the need for more in-depth planning, resourcing and systems of accountability to further advance equity, and
WHEREAS, county agencies, including staff at all levels, and community partners have indicated a need for clear internal and community goals and metrics and to strengthen leadership and engagement both in the workforce and the community for equity and social justice, and
WHEREAS, in a concurrently transmitted motion, as required by K.C.C. 2.10.054.A, equity and social justice is being recommended as one of the 2015-2016 strategic innovation priorities for council consideration and adoption, and
WHEREAS, given this progress and the region's momentum around equity, the county is in a position to further and deepen its work to advance equity and opportunity;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The office of performance, strategy and budget shall coordinate the development of a countywide equity and social justice strategic innovation priority plan, in close collaboration with the equity and social justice interbranch team and involvement of the community, county agencies and county employees, and in compliance with K.C.C. 2.10.014 through 2.10.124.
B. The plan shall, at a minimum:
1. Prioritize actionable countywide equity and social justice goals and strategies for how the county can most effectively advance equity within county government and in partnership with the community to improve access to the determinants of equity;
2. Establish systems to engage and empower all county employees to advance equity through their daily work;
3. Identify standards, processes, metrics and systems of accountability to advance equity and social justice goals, including: raising the visibility of equity and social justice among county employees and in the community; linking county service delivery to increased access to the determinants of equity; institutionalizing an equity and social justice focus in decision-making; promoting fairness and opportunity in county government's practices; collaborating across agencies; and building community trust and capacity;
4. Define King County's role in regional and national efforts to promote equity;
5. Recommend updates to K.C.C. 2.10.200 through 2.10.230; and
6. Outline a timeline and the resources needed to implement the plan.